Ripple Labs-owned Hidden Highway has introduced that its subsidiary, Hidden Highway Companions CIV US LLC, has obtained approval from the Monetary Trade Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to function as a FINRA-member broker-dealer.
This approval permits Hidden Highway to boost its lately launched fastened earnings prime brokerage platform, which at present presents Mounted Earnings Repo and World Funding companies.
New Dealer-Supplier Standing Amid Ripple Acquisition
The designation as a broker-dealer permits Hidden Highway to supply each new and present institutional shoppers with a complete suite of regulatory-compliant companies, together with prime brokerage, clearing, and financing for fastened earnings belongings.
Noel Kimmel, President at Hidden Highway, emphasised the significance of this registration, stating, “Our broker-dealer registration is a major step within the growth of Hidden Highway’s fastened earnings prime brokerage platform and bolsters our capabilities in conventional monetary markets.”
With its new standing, Hidden Highway goals to ship a technology-driven service providing to a wider vary of institutional clients. Kimmel famous the momentum behind the enterprise and expressed optimism about persevering with to supply “superior execution.”
The backdrop to this announcement consists of Ripple’s latest definitive settlement to accumulate Hidden Highway for $1.25 billion, which was disclosed on April 8, 2025. The acquisition is predicted to shut within the coming months, pending regulatory approvals.
US Market Prepared For Digital Asset Adoption
With Ripple’s substantial monetary backing, Hidden Highway anticipates a major enlargement in its service capability, positioning itself as one of many largest non-bank prime brokers globally.
Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, highlighted the present panorama for digital asset adoption within the US, noting that the market is now extra receptive than ever following regulatory modifications.
“We’re at an inflection level for the subsequent section of digital asset adoption – the US market is successfully open for the primary time because of the regulatory overhang of the previous SEC coming to an finish,” he acknowledged.
The acquisition additionally enhances the utility of Ripple USD (RLUSD), an enterprise-grade USD-backed stablecoin, which might be utilized as collateral throughout Hidden Highway’s prime brokerage merchandise.
Moreover, Hidden Highway plans emigrate its post-trade actions to the XRP Ledger (XRPL), which is predicted to streamline operations and scale back prices.
Ripple additionally goals to optimize prices and liquidity inside its cross-border funds answer, Ripple Funds, whereas offering important custody companies for Hidden Highway’s clientele who require bank-grade digital asset custody.
Marc Asch, Founder and CEO of Hidden Highway, remarked on the transformative potential of the deal, stating, “With new assets, licenses, and added threat capital, this deal will unlock vital progress in Hidden Highway’s enterprise, permitting us to extend capability for our buyer base, develop into new merchandise, and repair extra markets and asset courses.”
Asch emphasised that the partnership with Ripple will keep the belief and reliability that institutional shoppers count on from traditional markets, now designed for a digital future.
On the time of writing, XRP trades at $2.0570, down over 10% on the month-to-month time-frame.
Featured picture from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
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